This is a lesson on how to play “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock. You will need a harmonica in the key of B flat and we are playing in 2nd position. If you want to hear what the whole thing should sound like you can see me playing it here.
Click here to download lesson resources
Lick 1
Lick 2
Lick 3
Lick 4
Lick 5
Full Tune
Backing Track
Jumping around
There is a lot of jumping around in this tune. For example, in the 1st lick you are jumping from the 5 draw to the 2 draw. This is something that a lot of harmonica players don’t do very often and it is really worthwhile practicing. Practice slowly at first and make sure that you make the jump accurately without hitting anything notes either side.
If you want a good exercise to practice jumping around on the harmonica here is a lesson I did on hole skipping.
16 bar blues
Interestingly, this tune is a variation on a 12 bar blues. You will notice that it is 16 bars instead. Bars 9 and 10 are repeated 3 times which makes for an interesting repetition effect. I will be showing this section in next week’s lesson.
Click here to download lesson resources
Thank you
Thank you so much for checking out this lesson.
Introduction to Improvisation eCourse
If you want to find a little bit more about improvising on the harmonica then click here to find out about my ‘Introduction to Improvisation’ eCourse.
Dear Tomlin,
Thank you very much for all these good lessons. I enjoy every Wednesday: when coming home from work your post has already arrived. So fine, so good….
You have a very good taste for interesting blues songs and you explain them very well. The service you provide is excellent (technical quality of lessons, tabs, downloads etc.).
And now an important event is coming up next weekend: The big harmonica meeting in your home town. I wish you and all the participants good luck and have much fun and enjoy the time. Edinbugh is quite far away for me but in one of the next years i wil surely participate and i will come to visit the “most beautiful city” of the world
Once again: Thank you, Tomlin, and I’ll be thinking for you during the next week-end.
Kind regards,
Ernest, from Cologne (Germany)
Hello Tomlin,
I am only two weeks into becoming a Harp Legend. I take them everywhere, so that I can play anytime to impress the crowds.
However, it will require more than the three harmonicas that I purchased. C diatonic, C blues harp MS, and a G..
I will purchase two more in about a week. B flat diatonic and A diatonic…..( I think ) Sonny Terry songs on my radio are calling me to play along. Not sure what keys he plays in…
Anyways, I am sending you this message because I am having the time of my life because I caught a lesson from you, before I had a harp… You made me want a harmonica. So I went down to the music store and picked two “sweethearts” up… I now play every minute I can..
Thank you bunches for inspiring my soul to breath… You made me very happy and I will be on your website for a long time to come.
Thank you, Tomlin.
Thank you for another great lesson! Is there any chance you can hook up the backing track as a download?
Hello Tomlin,
I’ve only got a C Harp. Is it harmful to practise ‘Watermelon Man’on my C Harp?
Regards,
Andy Stuart (West Coast of Canada)
Thank you for your kind words Ernest! The weekend was a lot of fun and hopefully we will see you over here soon 🙂
Hi Don, this is one of the best messages I have ever received – thank you so much! I am so glad that you are enjoying harmonica so much. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Hi Kara, I’m afraid I can’t do downloads yet – it is one of the long term goals…
Not at all Andy – just don’t play it over the backing track as it will sound really out of tune 🙂